Pharmacy Blog

When someone mentions testosterone, you most likely link it to male sexuality, or even Low T (i.e. low testosterone).  However, in a fresh study, doctors found heart failure patients were able to breathe better, had enhanced endurance, better muscle mass, improved heart symptoms, and could even walk better when they took a supplemental dose of testosterone.

“Testosterone therapy appeared to confer a “significant improvement” to heart failure patients in terms of their overall ability to exercise and their muscle and skeletal endurance,”, the study authors wrote.

Commonly, heart failure patients who also have low testosterone levels frequently have loss of muscle mass and strength, making it difficult for them to engage in routine exercise. However, the significant improvements seen with a supplemental dosage of testosterone, could help patients with moderate to severe heart failure exercise more and feel better overall.

Most of the study participants were men, but researchers believe the results would most likely be the same for women too.

Heart failure is a chronic condition, whereby the heart is unable to pump adequate blood to meet the body’s requirements for oxygen, including being able to exercise properly. The condition can develop from blockages in the heart, or could be brought on by other conditions, like kidney disease, diabetes, or lung disease.

All-in-all, this is therapy that shows promise for heart failure patients, researchers say.

The complete study can be viewed online in the journal Circulation: Heart Failure.

Pharmacy Headquarters Blog (PharmacyHeadquarters.com) Editorial Staff  Copyright 2012 – All rights reserved